"Valentijn! Clean up the mess made by your cow or you will be fined!" The man barked in Dutch, pointing at the pile of shit on the road. The nearby cow mooed as the farmer glared at that man.

"Mathijs! I was your neighbour before you moved here! Can't you be lenient? You owned cows before, you know I can't control where they shit!" The farmer pleaded in Dutch.

"I'm very sorry, Valentijn. But rules are rules. Plus, these pay for my salary," Officer Mathijs silently mumbled the last part, before writing his old neighbour with a ticket.

"What the fuck is this?" The farmer asked as the ticket was slapped on the cow's ass. Valentijn removed the ticket from the cow's ass and studied it.

"You're fining me, 1 penny! Fuck, you're taking my liver! Fuck, you bastard."

"Pay it at the town hall, or I'm impounding your cow. I know if you didn't pay, Valentijn."

The new small force of officers was deployed around town, and they were making sure the streets are kept clean. Due to how most of the men in town were armed, likewise, these officers were also armed with guns. It was a militarized police force, and they would not be lenient if someone tried to resist. It was too dangerous to be lenient in these parts.

Plus, these men saw the higher wages they earned whilst working for him, so they were loyal, temporarily. They also knew the farmers passing by, and vice versa. So, the farmers did not try to get violent with their old friends and paid up the fines, which inadvertently paid these men their salaries. He told them that when he first hired them, and also that the best performers would get bonuses.

It's nice having free police, plus, the streets were getting cleaner. If the cows were taking a shit, they were doing it in alleyways no one can see. Thus, any newcomers to the town, would not have to deal with the smell of shit everywhere they walk.

Especially for the volunteer cleaners, who sparked that incident by beating a random elf in the past, it made their job easier as they concentrated their efforts in the alleyways.

"Ahh, Commando, do you need us to patrol the fence?" The officer noticed him and walked towards him. Jan savoured the man calling him Commando. If it was in the past, when the officer was a normal farmer, he would only call him Commando if pigs could fly. But with their incentives tied to one another, it feels good to turn him on his side.

"No need. I doubt any elves would try to jump over it. Concentrate on your duties. I see you have done good work, perhaps you might get the bonus."

"Thank you very much, sir," The officer went to another part of town to continue giving out more fines.

He continued his walkabout, where the farmers paid little heed to him. Few recognized him, and even if they do, they did not want to acknowledge him as Commando. He ignored their gazes and studied the Churches. There were various churches set up by various missionaries, but the town lacked a Dutch Protestant Church as requested by Sarel Cilliers.

Considering his lack of popular support among the rural classes, the only reason he was still in control was due to the men in Pietermaritzburg, he had to suck up to these men. Sarel Cilliers was someone he had to get in his good graces with, especially if another Boer-Elf conflict breaks out due to his abilities in creating a non-magic zone.

Funds were tight, but there were some wealthy men he knew who settled in the town.

The leader of the landowners, Hein Hindriks organized a social gathering for men like him who accrued plots of land around them due to the success of their harvest. Hein personally introduced him to every man, who was rather cold due to them being ex-farmers, but they admitted that they somewhat understood what he was seeking to achieve.

"If I want to have slaves, the prices are absurd! How do I feed them due to the high food prices!" The Dutch landowner confessed. It seems the fellow completely misunderstood his intentions.

Canned food was served at the gathering, and these men sampled canned food, probably for the first time in their lives. They sang praises of it upon tasting it, remarking that it was rather delicious and wondered how they could get more.

Hein's lips curled up as he went into his sales pitch promoting the canned food manufacturer that he had a decent stake. Jan's lips curled up as well, as he benefitted from his pitch.

"You're not a man who goes to places without having some intentions. If you were the opposite, you would have gone on walkabouts around my farm to greet us, farmers," Hein saddled up to him with a glass of beer in his head. The beer was fermented from the maize he had grown and he had delicious-looking corn on display. As described by Hindriks, they were some of his recent harvests.

"You're right. I'll go straight to the point. I would like to fund the construction of a Dutch Protestant Church, and I'll need your assistance in funding the project."

"About time. Many farmers complained as they had to travel to Pietermaritzburg to reach a Dutch Church. Some made do with the Anglican Church. So, what do you need, money? How much?"

Jan shrugged.

"Depending on how opulent the construction is. But I prefer if it is simple."

"That can't do. We can't have our churches outdone by the English. At the very least, it should be better than the Anglican Church in town. Hmm… since we have everyone gathered, why don't we raise funds from them to fund such a construction?"

Hein wandered off from him and walked to the centre of the room. Clapping his hands, everyone turned their heads to him.

Speaking in Dutch, " Gentlemen, our Commando here is seeking to fund a Dutch Church."

Rumbles were heard from everyone.

"Fucking finally!"

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"Do you know how annoying it is to travel to Pietermaritzburg!"

"I was about to go to the Anglican Church this week…"

Everyone momentarily glared at the traitor before returning their smiles to Hein.

"We can't be outdone by the English. Our Church has to look better than theirs! So I suggest everyone fund as much as they can. But not all of your money, reserve some for Winter. The one who gives the biggest amount gets to name the Church after themselves."

Hein drove up fervours of discussion among the landowners, who discussed how much they were willing to give.

"I hope you don't mind if I overstepped my boundaries there, Commando Jan. But I believe we would now have a more beautiful Church compared to the English."

"Thank you very much for your assistance, Hein Hindriks. I'll ensure this project goes smoothly. I plan to bring Sarel Cilliers to lead the project."

"Sarel Cillers? The pastor, Sarel Cillers?"

Jan nodded and confirmed his words, surprise lit up Hein's face.

Somehow, this calm social event became an auction hall as Boers shouted bigger numbers about the number of pound sterlings' they were willing to lose so that a building in town could be named after them. Somehow, Dale Carnegie knew how people worked in How to Win Friends and Influence People. Name things after themselves and see them go ballistic.

"1 pound sterling!"

"5-pound sterling!"

"10-pound sterling!"

The number raised before hitting a cap of 25-pound sterling. The Boer grinned and watched for any other hands to show up. After a minute or so, he boasted.

"Hahaha! The Church's going to be called Niek Plaizier's Church! Hope you all enjoy saying my name every week!"

The Boer did a little dance and prowled around the room. Nobody paid him any attention.

"That should get you the funds necessary. Hell, I believe it's more than enough," Hein Hindriks remarked.

"We shall see. I believe Sarel Cillers' isn't a man of opulence. He would take the bare minimum, before giving the funds away as charity."

"Joren Hoenderman, long time no see. I was wondering what you were up to," Jan remarked as the man who introduced him to the Volksraad appeared in his face.

"Jan, apologies for not seeing you more often. I was busy in Winburg. My family has a business up there."

'Winburg…' Jan thought to himself and remembered a certain man who was heading in that direction. That man had the same name as him, Jan. Commando Jan de Winnaar was heading in that direction, perhaps they'd met.

"I've tried my best to come back upon hearing the unrest. But it seems Pretorius handled it. I've heard the gist of things from him. It seems the rural farmers don't support you."

"A summary."

"I've noticed from your various policies that you seem to favour the urban dwellers more. Why is that so?"

"They aren't loyal. These men would pack up and move to another town if they wanted to. Unlike the burgeoning landowners or the urban dwellers, they don't see Port Mpande as their home. So, why should I bother trying to gain the support of such men?"

"Maybe if you favoured them, they wouldn't move to another town and choose to settle here instead."

Jan frowned.

"That is possible. But the food they grow is widely available. I could buy them from other Boer towns or even the Zulus. Why should they be treated as if their food could mean life or death for this town?"

"Those men are the backbone of a Commando. These are the men who will be mobilized and fight by your side. Those landowners might have accrued much wealth but if you try to bring them to a fight, I doubt they would be able to contribute. The urban dwellers are like these landowners. Those that are richer will act like them, while the rest will be the soldiers under your command. Plus, you shouldn't be reliant on other towns for food. Even the Zulu."

Joren shook his head.

"I know you're thinking that Pretorius could get them to fall in line. But in a battle or a war? These men will be under your command. Would you rather have loyal or disloyal men?"

Joren stopped talking and let his words sink in.

Jan nodded.

"You're right. But how can I win back the loyalty of these men?"

"Treat them well. I suppose. The next planting season is in April. They're going to spend lots of money on seeds. Perhaps you can subsidise their expenses?"

"No… I have a better idea."

"Commando Jan Boddewijk, I never expect you to be here," The merchant sat comfortably in his seat and smiled.

"There are all sorts of seed suppliers in town. I am looking to personally procure seeds for the farmers. I will buy in bulk, representing them all personally. Yes, I will procure all their seeds for them on their behalf. I expect a generous offer, or else I will go to your competitor down the street."

"Enticing offer," The seed supplier spread his hands out, continuing, "But what kind of seeds do you need?"

"My men are going about surveying the farmers individually and asking them what seeds they plan to procure next Spring. I will hand you the list in a month. I expect that you'll be able to prepare it by the next planting season."

Leaning against the table, Jan asked, "How much of a discount are you willing to offer? Do understand. If I do not work with you, you will not be seeing any sales this Spring."

The merchant stammered before getting a hold of himself.

"I doubt you will be able to get the farmers to fall in line with your wishes. I have developed extensive relations with them, and they would procure their seeds from me, no matter what you plan to do."

"Oh, I'll tell you what I'm planning on doing. I'm planning on setting up a farmer's cooperative to procure those seeds. From now on, any dealings will have to be done through the cooperative."

The merchant snorted.

"With the independent nature of Boers widely known, I doubt you could coerce them to follow along with your plans."

"My men may like to be independent. But economics win in the end. There is no way any other merchant will be able to offer them better prices than what the cooperative can offer."

"You speak of this jargon. But what is this cooperative?"

"It's farmers grouping with one another to pool their needs together into a single organization. Think of it as a farmers' union. From now on, all business will be conducted with this cooperative. Procurement of seeds? Done through the cooperative. Selling of crops? Done through the cooperative."

"I see. But I still doubt that you will be able to put together such an organization."

"Suit yourself," Jan bid the merchant goodbye and made his pitch somewhere else.

"The farmers don't understand what we are proposing. But as long as we told them they would be able to buy cheaper seeds and sell their crops for higher prices, they were immediately interested."

"Have you identified a suitable candidate to represent the farmers in the cooperative?"

Russell shook his head.

"We are working on it. But it is hard to get a feel of who represents who. For now, we should leave it to one of our bureaucrats who was an ex-farmer. I'm sure they will be able to manage it well due to their experience."

Jan groaned.

"Not the best of circumstances, sadly. I rather have the farmers participate in this project to ensure they will be more invested in this."

"Not every farmer will be interested in participating in such an organisation politically. I would find those who are extremely interested in helming such an organisation suspicious. After all, if you were doing well as a farmer, why would you care about managing such affairs? You would focus on tending to your fields. I fear that those who might be interested are poor farmers and should not even be tasked with leading."

"And then they'll make their money off kickbacks given by the merchants?"

Russell nodded and sighed.

"But it needs a good name, what shall we name the cooperative?" Jan asked.

"How about the Boers Agricultural Farming Cooperative or BAFC?"

"It's too long and has too much jargon. We need something sweet and short that a farmer could easily remember."

"Boer-Cooperative?" Russell proposed.

"Too generic, something that has some staying powers in their minds would be the best. Perhaps something that has some historical significance."

"Wait, I got it. How about the Boer South Elfrica Cooperative? I thought that it sounded reminiscent of the Dutch East India Company or the VOC. In Dutch it translates to Boer Zuid-Elfrica Coöperatie or BZEC."

"Remove the Z and we're left with the BEC. I suppose the name could stick. Let's give it a try."

Russell brought over numerous documents and requested Jan to sign every one of them. Taking a cursory glance at each document, he promptly signed them all and handed them to Russell.

"With those signed, the Boer Zuid Elfrica Coöperatie has been formed. I believe these documents would hold more sway over the merchants."

Russell produced a thick stack of papers.

"These are signatures from the various farmers indicating their support for the cooperative. With the documents and these signatures, I bet those seed suppliers will start paying more attention to you. Hopefully, you'll be able to secure better deals."

Jan smiled and thanked Russell.